Stoker mechanism



Dec. 2, w41.

P. B. woLvER'roN 2,264,467

STOKER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 4, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet l l:;i1" I QQ il f 0g l| m l l mi" ELI Jg/y;

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Dec. 2, 1941. P. B. woLvER'roN `sToKER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 4, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Vrhm\ Patented Dec. 2, 1941 STOKER IVIECHANISM Percy B. Wolverton, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Wolson-Ramer Corporation, Kansas City, Mo., a. corporation of Missouri Application september 4, 1937, serial No. 162,539

(ci. 11o- 109) 6 Claims.

My invention relates more particularly to stoker mechanism for delivering coal into furnaces; and my primary object is to provide improvements in such mechanisms to the end that they will be better adapted to perform the work for which they are provided; be economical of construction and in operation; the charge of coal delivered to the furnace upon each operation of the mechanism may be accurately controlled and varied as desired; and other objects as will be manifest from the following description.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a stoker mechanism embodying my invention and showing it positioned `relative to the front wall of a furnace.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of the Stoker mechanism taken normal to Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a view in side elevation, partly sectional, with the adjacent side plate removed,

of the stoker mechanism f the preceding figures' the parts of which, are shown in normal, retracted, position. ii-J Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in sectional elevation of one of the valves and its operating mechanism forming a part of the Stoker mechanism, the structure being viewed at the line 4 on Fig. 11 and in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 5 is a similar view of another valve device and its operating mechanism forming a. part of the stoker mechanism, the structure being viewed at the line 5 on Fig. 11 and in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 6 is an enlarged view, in longitudinal sectional elevation, of the forward end of the stoker mechanism showing an intermediate position of the parts, the section being taken at the line 5 on Fig. 11 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken at the line 1 on Fig. 6 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Figure 8 is a view like Fig. 6 of the rear end of the steker mechanism, this view being a continuation of Fig. 6 and showing the mechanism in intermediate position.

Figure 9 is a plan view, with the top cover removed, on the front end of the Stoker mechanism.

Figure 10 is a similar view, with the top cover removed. of the rear end of the Stoker mechanism.

Figure ll is an end view of the Stoker mechanism with the end cover plate removed, the mechanism being viewed from the right-hand in Fig. 3.

Figure 12 is a breken sectional view, taken at the line I2 on Fig. 11 and viewed in the direction of the arrow, showing a check valve device forming a part of the mechanism.

Figure 13 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, the section being taken at the line I3 on Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; and

Figure 14 is a diagrammatic view showing the complete fluid pressure system of the machine.

The mechanism shown comprises a housing I3 shown as of rectangular form with its forward end open at which it extends into the fire-door opening I4 of a furnace to be supplied with coal by the stoker, a closure plate I5 adjustable along the housing I3 serving to close the space between the housing and the wall of the nre-door opening.

The mechanism shown also comprises a hopper I 6 for the coal, this hopper, together with the housing I3 andthe operating parts therein hereinafter described, being supported in operative position, as shown, in any suitable way, as for example, on the arm I1 encircling a post I8 supported as by the base I9, and retained in vertically adjusted position by a sleeve 20 encircling the post I8 and adapted to be secured in any desired position of vertical adjustment thereon by a set screw 2 I.

The housing I3 which has a bottom wall 22, a top wall 23, side walls 24 and 25 and a rear end wall 26, contains a horizontal partition wall 21 in the form of a plate which, with the upper portions of the side Walls 24 and 25, forms a trough shaped support for coal fed along it from the hopper, as hereinafter described, the forward end of the plate 21 terminating short of the forward end of the housing I3 as shown in Figs. 3 and 9.

The hopper I6 opens through the top wall 23 of the housing, as indicated at 28, at a point intermediate the ends of the housing.

Located in the lower portion of the front end of the housing I3 is a platelike structure 29 the forward end of which, represented at 30, preferably slightly upwardly inclines forwardly and the rear end of which, represented at 3I, is of curved shape in cross section, this plate structure 29 being located directly beneath the terminal front edge of the plate 21 and provided to receive charges of coal intermittently dropped thereon from the plate 21 by the operation of pusher means hereinafter described; the charges of coal dropped onto the plate structure 29 being projected into the furnace through the fire-door opening I 4 by mechanism hereinafter described.

The means above referred to for intermittently dropping charges of coal from the plate structure 21 to the plate structure 29 comprise a pusher element 32 shown as in the form of a plate located in the housing I3 above the plate 21 and of a length substantially equal to the width of the housing; this pusher element being reciprocable between stationary stops 33 limito ing the forward movement of the pusher element to a position in which it is substantially flush with the rear edge of the hopper o'utlet as shown in Fig. 8, and stops 34 adjustable into different position lengthwise of the machine, by the provision of the series of openings 35 in side bars 36 located in the housing, whereby the stroke of the pusher element may be varied to control the amount of coal advanced along the plate 21 upon each forward stroke of the pusher element.

The pusher element 32 is carried on the front end of the piston rod 31 of fluid-pressure-operated piston and cylinder mechanism represented at 38 and supplied with any suitable fluid pressure, as for example water under pressure, for the actuation of the pusher element.

The pusher element 32 is associated with spring means which operate upon relieving the fluid pressure in the piston and cylinder mechanism 38, to return the pusher element 32 to normal, retracted, position (Fig. 3) preparatory to the next actuation of the piston and cylinder mechanism for moving the pusher element on its feed stroke, these spring means being shown as comprising a pair of coil springs 39 connected with the plate 32 and with brackets 40 carried by one of a plurality of cross members 4I in the housing.

The means cooperating with the plate structure 29 for projecting therefrom charges of coal delivered to it from the plate 21 comprises a flipper plate 42 extending crosswise of the machine throughout substantially the full width of the housing and hinged at its upper end, as represented at 43, to the forward end of the upper horizontal forwardly extending portion 44 of an angle-shaped member 45, the vertical depending plate portion 46 of which is located at the rear edge of the portion 44.

The member 45 slides at its plate portion 44, lengthwise of the machine between pairs of vertically spaced guide bars 41 and 48 (Figs. 6 and 7) located at opposite sides of the housing i3, and is connected at its vertical plate portion 46 with the forward end of the piston rod 48 of fluidpressure-actuated piston and cylinder mechanism U operated, as hereinafter described, to force the member 45, and with it the ipper plate 42, forwardly.

The rear edge portion of the plate structure 29 is provided with a shoulder 5i and the flipper plate 42 is of such height that throughout a portion of the forward movement of the mem-v ber 45 the plate 42 is engaged at its lower edge with the shoulder 5I as shown in Fig. 6, causing the plate 42 to swing rearwardly and upwardly in the continued forward movement of the member 45, until it clears the shoulder, whereupon, by the mechanism which will now be described, the plate 42 is forcibly swung forwardly to sweep the charge of coal from the plate 29 and project it into the furnace.

The mechanism just referred to for flipping the plate 42 comprises a pair of rods, one of which is shown at 52, pivoted at 53 to the plate 42 and sliding in openings in the plate portion 46 of member 45; coil springs, one of which is shown at 54, surrounding the rods 52 between the plate 46 and shoulders, one of which is shown at 55, on the rods 52 and which become compressed in the rear upward swinging movement of the plate 42; and buffer springs, one of which is shown at 56, engaging stop blocks, one of which is shown at 51, adjustable on the rear ends of the rods 52 and operating, upon 75 engaging the plate 48, to cushion the forward swinging movement of the plate 42 in the flipping operation.

The flipper mechanism is associated with spring means which operate upon relieving the fluid pressure in the piston' and cylinder mechanism 50, to return the flipper mechanism to normal, retracted, position (Fig. 3) preparatory to the next actuation of the mechanism 50 for moving the flipper mechanism on its feed stroke, these spring means being shown as comprising a pair of coil springs 58 at opposite sides oi the mechanism 50 and connected with the portion 4l of member 45 and with upright bars 53 in the housing.

Referring now to the means for supplying the uid pressure to the piston and cylinder mechanisms 38 and 58 and controlling the actuations thereof in the desired timed relation; these means comprise a pipe 66 which would lead from any suitable source of fluid pressure, as for example water under pressure, this pipe, which is provided with a throttling valve 6i having a hand wheel 62 for controlling the flow of fluid pressure through the pipe 60, opening into a chamber 63 provided in the casing 84 of a valve device 65, the chamber 63 communicating at an opening 66 therein with a pipe 61 which opens into a pipe 68 communicating with the rear end of the cylinder of the piston and cylinder mechanism 38. 'I'hrough the course thus provided the fluid pressure enters the rear end of the cylinder of the mechanism 38 for forcing the pusher element 32 forwardly.

The casing 64 contains a second chamber 88 opening into the chamber 63, communication between these chambers being controlled by a slide valve 1li, the stem of which is represented at 1I. A coil spring 12 in the chamber 63 and bearing against the valve 10 tends to close this valve which is operated to open position as hereinafter described. 'I'he chamber 68 has an opening 13 which communicates with a pipe 14 opening into a pipe 15 which communicates with the rear end of the cylinder of the piston and cylinder mechanism 50 and through which course fluid pressure to move the flipper mechanism forwardly enters the rear end of this cylinder, upon the opening of the valve 10.

The means now being described also provides for the relieving of the fluid pressure in the cylinders to permit the pusher element and flipper mechanism to become retracted to normal position by the retracting springs above described. To this end the means referred to also comprise a valve device 16 the casing 11 of which contains chambers 18 and 18 communication between which is controlled by a slide valve 80, the stem of which is represented at 8i and operated as hereinafter described, a coil spring 82 in the chamber 18 tending to unseat the valve 86. The chamber 18 of the valve 16 communicates at an outlet 83 therein with a pipe 84 leading to waste. The chamber 19 of this valve device communicates at an opening 85 therein with a pipe 86 which opens into a pipe 81, between the ends of the latter. One end of the pipe 81 opens into the pipe 68. The other end of the pipe 81 opens into the pipe 15 through a check valve device 88, the valve of which, shown as a ball and represented at 88, seats by gravity and operates to prevent at all times any now of fluid pressure through the pipe 81 to the cylinder of the piston and cylinder mechanism 58.

'I'he inlet valve mechanism 65, through which 4on its feed stroke; and the relief valve mechanism 16 is actuated to permit the pusher device and the flipper device to return to normal, re-

' tracted, position, by the mechanism which actuates the ipper device on its feed stroke; a description of the means shown for these purposes ,being as follows:

The means controlling the inlet valve 10 comprises a lever 90 pivoted at 9| on a stationary part of the mechanism .and normally pressed at its lower end, by a spring 92, against the outer end of the stem 1|. The upperend of the lever 90 extends upwardly through a slot 93 in a\bar 94 connected at its forward end with the pusher element 32 for movement therewith. The bar 94 carries a tappet device 95 shown as a screw lengthwise adjustable in standards 96 secured to the bar 94, the upper end of the lever 90 extending into the path of forward movement of the tappet and being rocked thereby to open the valve 10 when the pusher element 32 reaches the end of its forward, feed, movement.

The mechanism for controlling the opening of the relief valve 80 is shown as comprising a lever 91 pivoted betwen its ends, as indicated at 98, to a stationary part of the mechanism and extending at its lower end into a cross groove 99 in the outer end of the stem 8|. The upper end of the lever 91 is provided with across pin |08 which extends into a longitudinal slot in a bar |02 pivotally connected at |03 with the plate 46 of the member 45. The bar |02, in the movements of the member 45, slides on the pin |00, the ends of the slot (the rear end being shown as in the form of an adjusting screw |04) alternately engaging the lever 91 in the reciprocations of the member 45 for the purpose hereinafter explained.

Assuming the various parts of the mechanism to be in the normal, retracted, position shown in Figs. 3 and l0, and that fluid pressure is being supplied through the pipe 60 (in which position the valves 10 and 80 are closed), the fluid pressure completely fills the fluid pressure courses provided in the mechanism as hereinbefore described, except, because of the closed condition of valve 10, that part of the courses comprising the pipes 14 and 15, the check valve 89 preventing the entry of uid pressure to these pipes through the filled pipe 81, and the pressure in chamber 19 holding the valve 80 closed against the action of the spring 82.

The pressure produced by the fluid pressure operates to move the pusher element 32 forwardly for advancing along the plate 21 coal supplied thereto from the hopper I6 for final discharge from this plate to the coal support 29 beneath it. In the final movement of the pusher element 32 on its feed stroke, the tappet 95 engages the lever 90 rocking it in a direction to open the valve 10 thus opening the pipes 14 and 15 and the rear end of the cylinder of the piston and cylinder mechanism 50, to the supply of fluid pressure while maintaining the cylinder of thev piston and cylinder mechanism 38 open to the supply, whereupon the member 45, together with the fiipper plate 42, are moved forwardly, the flipper plate in this movement being placed under tension through its engagement with the shoulder followed by its release which causes the flipper plate to sweep along the surface 3| of the plate structure 29 and forcibly flip into the furnace the coal deposited on this plate. As the flipper mechanism nears the limit of its forward stroke, the screw |04 engages the cross pin |00 of thelever 91 which swings the lever 91 and Y are of considerably larger diameter than the inlet pipes 60, 61 'and 14, whereby the pressure upon opening valve 80 becomes quickly relieved permitting the springs 39 and 58 to quickly return the pusher element 32 andthe flipper mechanism to normal, retracted, position.

As soon as the pusher element 32 starts back to retracted position the spring 12 closes the valve 10, and as the ipper mechanism nears the end ofits movement to retracted position the front wall of the slot |0I in bar |02 engages the lever 91 rocking it in a direction to close the valve 89 against the action of its spring 82 (Fig. 5) thus closing communication between chambers 18 and 19 and permitting the pressure of the incoming fluid pressure to build up in the system for again operating the` pusher element 32 and the ipper mechanism in succession as above described.

As will be understood from the foregoing, the pusher element 32 upon each forward stroke advances the coal, which has been fed to the plate 21 from the hopper, determined by the adjustment of the stops 34, and thus discharges from the end of plate 21 to the support 29 below it a predetermined amount of coal, with each operation, completely dropping a charge of coalV to the plate 29 before the flipper plate 42 starts to sweep across the support 29 thereby ensuring the introduction into the furnace of a measured charge of coal with each feed stroke of the ipper plate, the operation of which serves to forcibly project the coal into the furnace and spread it over the fire bed.

In accordance with the particular villustrated embodiment ofthe invention I provide on the front edge of the plate 21 a central projection 21a and lateral projections 21b of the shape shown to ensure more nearly uniform distribution of the coal to the support 29 than would otherwise be obtained, due to the frictional drag of the coal at the sides of the trough of which the plate 21 is the bottom. I also provide on the pusher elevmechanism I provide in the path of the projected coal a deflector device shown as formed ofa pair of rods 22a connected with the front end of the housing 22 and having upwardly extending legs 22b projecting into the path of movement of the projected coal; also as a means of insuring .the dropping of more nearly accurately measured charges of coal from the plate 21, I provide Aan upstanding rib 21, shown as of inverted V- shape in cross section, on the front end of the a predetermined distance,

plate 21 over which the coal rides as it slides ating as stated is of particular advantage in connectlon with small furnace installations such as for example as commonly provided in houses, especially inasmuch as the feed of the fuel to the furnace may be accurately controlled and regulated to meet the conditions of heat requirements.

While I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of my invention I do not wish to be understood as intending to limit it thereto as the invention may be embodied in other forms of structure and that shown may be variously modified and altered without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. Stoker mechanism comprising a support for coal, a reciprocatory device for feeding coal to said support, flipper means for projecting the coal from said support, uid-pressure-operated devices for actuating said reciprocatory device and said flipper means, respectively, and means for supplying iiuid pressure to said fluid pressure operated devices in succession to first feed a charge of coal to said support and then to flip the charge from .said support.

2. Stoker mechanism comprising a support for coal, fluid-pressure-actuated means having a coal moving element for feeding coal to said support, uid pressure actuated means having a coal moving element for projecting the coal from said support, means for conducting duid pressure to said rst and second-named means, a valve device controlling the supplying of uid pressure to said second-named means, means operating at the end of the feed stroke of said first-named means to condition said valve device for supplying fluid pressure to said second-named means, means through which the pressure in said first and second-named means is relieved comprising a check valve obstructing passage of uid pressure to said second-named means and a valve device controlling the relief of the pressure in said first and second-named means, means operating at the end of the feed stroke of said second-named means for conditioning said lastnamed valve device for relieving the pressure in said first and second-named means, and means for retracting said coal engaging elements.

3. Stoker mechanism comprising a support for coal, fluid pressure actuated means having a spring retracted coal moving element for feeding coal to said support, fluid pressure actuated means having a spring retracted coal moving element for projecting the coal from said support,V

means for conducting fluid pressure to said first and second-named means, a valve device controlling the supplying of iiuid pressure to said second-named means, means operating at the end of the feed stroke of said first-named means to condition said valve device for supplying fluid pressure to said second-named means, means through which the pressure in said first and second-named means is relieved comprising a check valve obstructing passage of uid pressure to said second-named means and a valve device controlling the relief of the pressure in said first and second-named means, and means operating at the end of the feed stroke of said second-named said rst-named means at the end of its feed stroke for conditioning said valve device for supplying fluid pressure4 to said second-named means, means through which the pressure in said first and second-named means is released comprising a check valve obstructing passage of fluid pressure to said second-named means and a valve device controlling the relief of the pressure in said first and second-named means, means operating at the end of the feed stroke of said second-named means for conditioning said lastnamed valve device for relieving the pressure in said first and second-named means, and means for retracting said coal engaging elements.

5. Stoker mechanism comprising a support for coal, fluid-pressure-actuated means having a coal moving element for feeding coal to said support, fluid pressure actuated means having a coal moving element for projecting the coal from said support, means for conducting iluid pressure to said first and second-named means, a valve device controlling the supplying of uid pressure to said second-named means, means operating at the end lof' the feed stroke of said first-named means to condition said valve device for supplying fluid pressure to said second-named means, means through which the pressure in said first and second-named means is relieved comprising a check valve obstructing passage of fluid pressure to said second-named means and a valve device controlling the relief of the pressure in said first and second-named means, means actuated by said second-named means at the end of its feed stroke for conditioning said lastnamed valve device for relieving the pressure in said rst and second-named means, and means for retracting said coal engaging elements.

6. Stoker mechanism comprising a support for coal, fluid-pressure-actuated means having a coal moving element for feeding coal to said support, fluid pressure actuated means having a coal moving element for projecting the coal from said support, means for conducting uid pressure to said first and second-named means, a valve device controlling the supplying of fluid pressure to said second-named means, means actuated by said first-named means at the end of its feed stroke for conditioning said valve device for supplying iiuid pressure to said second-named means. means through which the pressure in said first and second-named means is relieved comprising a check valve obstructing passage of fluid pressure to said second-named means and a valve device controlling the relief of the pressure in said first and second-named means, means actuated by said second-named means at the end of its feed stroke for conditioning said last-named valve device for relieving the pressure in said first and second-named means, and means for retracting said coal engaging elements.

PERCY B. WOLVERTON. 

